Book - Once Upon a Harbour

Allen & Unwin describe Once Upon a Harbour as ‘an extraordinary book of funny stories and amazing illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator David Elliot and celebrated author Fiona Farrell.’

As David writes...

Once Upon a Harbour is a book about a place that has turned into a book! The place is Otago Harbour where I live, but it could be anywhere we wander and wonder… jot down ideas and especially draw.

It began with a fat rat scuttling under a nearby boatshed and me wondering what sort of dastardly adventures he might get up to with his mates… A whole collection of harbour drawings followed, like chapters around the shoreline. They weren’t really stories, just notions and I wondered if they might suit poems. Luckily I met just the poet to write them – Fiona Farrell.

We chose six of the best starting ideas and Fiona worked her magic, transforming them with delightful stories full of wit and humour…

The rats of course… A sea monster called Craig... Mr and Mrs Drizzle who lived in the clouds... The little house going back out to sea... Gnarled pines partying on the hillside... And Pigs outwitting a wolf

 Once Upon A Harbour – a book about a place I love.

Find out more about Once Upon a Harbour here